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Hi guys I'm wondering if yous have any advice.I've recently started reloading with a friend who showed me the ropes.I did my first batch myself recently but ran into problems.the first round went fine but the 2nd round failed to fire.we waited a safe time then went to extract the round but the bolt didn't want to open.it took a bit of effort but we got it open but in doing so separated the case from the head inside the action.resulting in powder in the action and the head stuck in the barrel.is my round to long,as has been suggested.the round was fully resized and it was amax heads.all rounds were the same size as the previous batch but was lapua Serenas.any tips or advice would be appreciated.Thanks

I don't understand.

As the case head is at the bottom of the case where the extractor grips the rim how can it be left in the barrel when it has come off?

Perhaps the case body was left in the barrel.

There are a few things folk might need to know to be able to help.

How many times had that case been fired and reloaded?

Was the bolt easy to close on that and the previous round?

Was the chamber clean and well maintained?

What was the calibre?

What was the firearm?

What was the overall length?

When the bullet was recovered, was it marked by the rifling?

BULLETS are not "heads ", it gets confusing when you call things by the wrong name, like some RFDs who insist on selling bullet heads !!!!

The OP is clearly a beginner as he has stated, lots of people get the terminology wrong. Perhaps someone can suggest a good book or website for starting out reloading?

I suspect the OP has been given the practical basics but not a lot of theory.

Theory, at least an understanding of the basics, is an essential part of reloading safely and without it people have lost body parts.

Hi safety first thanks for replying.to clarify your questions.the cases are on there 3rd reloading,the bolt was fine to close.the bolt and rifle were clean and oiled.it's 6.5x47 weatherby vanguard and my lengths were 2.708.also sorry about the wrong terminology guys.

Sounds like primer didn't ignite powder and forced bullet partly into bore.

Mark

Nearly There, if you give your location I'm sure one of the more experienced FB members would offer to take a look and double check your loads/loading setup :)

Before you make up any loads...make up a dummy round with the bullet of choice..ensure it is not seated tightly in the neck of the case..carefully chamber with minimum force and if there is any resistance, extract the dummy...do not force the bolt down to chamber the round...do not take the published "overall length" figures as gospel, since your chamber and your bullet will be a unique fit.
If the dummy round will not chamber at the first try, seat the bullet a little deeper etc. There are lots of good methods of getting the correct seating depth and if you google you will find some....the figures quoted in the reloading books are not "absolute".

Once you have a dummy round that will chamber, that is your template for live loads with that bullet and case. One other thing...after you have resized your fired cases...check a sample to see that they will chamber in your rifle, before you start reloading...this can save you a lot of grief. I have spent 3 years reloading a k31 with a .296 bore and lands down to the case neck...I have some experience and grief in getting a correct OAL with different bullets!

Sounds as if your stuck round was too long, but I would have expected a problem in turning the bolt down when chambering. If the bolt will not close easily, back it off. If the bullet is stuck in the barrel it must presumably be jammed into the lands and the round was too long. We all learn from our mistakes.

Mike95

It sounds like you had a light strike and your brass is too long for your chamber. However if this was the case, the bolt should have been difficult to close. A picture of the primer and confirmation of whether you fully resized the brass would be helpful.